Changing a nut......?

[Beedster]

Hi all
The nut on my fretless Precision is cut a little too low. I've another that will fit perfectly and which i think will improve the sound/playability. How do I get the old one out and what do I use to keep the new one in there (I'm assuming not Superglue)?
Any other tips?
Cheers
Chris

[mrcrow]

[quote name='Beedster' post='519354' date='Jun 20 2009, 03:01 PM']Hi all
The nut on my fretless Precision is cut a little too low. I've another that will fit perfectly and which i think will improve the sound/playability. How do I get the old one out and what do I use to keep the new one in there (I'm assuming not Superglue)?
Any other tips?
Cheers
Chris[/quote]

getting it out should be fairly easy as they are really held by the strings...a gentle tap sideways with a blunt tool

the new one can be put in position with just a skim of glue in the middle third...not expoxy...pva diluted will do
the strings will do the rest

the nut on my manson fretless was actually loose but always held its position

after stringing and tensioning i just coaxed it into position and it stayed there

definately not superglue

[steve-soar]

Could be a bit trickier than that if the nut is curved at the bottom, to mirror the radius of the board (I can't remember if that is the case on early 70's P basses) but with any luck, it will be flat and a straight channel will be left for it.
Try using a piece of hard woood, 1" thick, wide enough to be broader than the nut and long enough to tap confidently with a small hammer, lay it flat on the fingerboard and give the end of it a gentle tap, making sure that the end that is pressed against the nut, is dead flush, (I hit one once that wasn't and I cracked the nut in the middle ).

[NickThomas]

Sounds like a painful procedure LOL

[steve-soar]

It was, I slipped and got the sack.

[mrcrow]

[quote name='steve-soar' post='519414' date='Jun 20 2009, 04:32 PM']Could be a bit trickier than that if the nut is curved at the bottom, to mirror the radius of the board (I can't remember if that is the case on early 70's P basses) but with any luck, it will be flat and a straight channel will be left for it.
Try using a piece of hard woood, 1" thick, wide enough to be broader than the nut and long enough to tap confidently with a small hammer, lay it flat on the fingerboard and give the end of it a gentle tap, making sure that the end that is pressed against the nut, is dead flush, (I hit one once that wasn't and I cracked the nut in the middle ).[/quote]

and the other nut?

[Al Heeley]

[quote name='mrcrow' post='519363' date='Jun 20 2009, 03:12 PM']definately not superglue[/quote]
Heh - I always use a tiny drop of superglue, its perfect, quite brittle for a soft sideways blow , the nut comes away easily without damage yet is held really firm very quickly.

[steve-soar]

Yeah, a tiny dot about a third, then 2 thirds along the slot, tap, breaks like glass.

[solo4652]

I've just replaced the nut on my P-bass. The old one came away easily with a gentle tap on the end. The new one, a brass one, was a little wider than the slot, so I had to file the slot out a bit. Trouble was that the new brass nut was bigger all round than the old nut - it was higher as well as wider, and I han't appreciated just how that would impact on string height/neck relief/saddle height/intonation. Fortunately, i didn't glue the new nut in place before realising I had to deepen the existing slot. Couple of spots of superglue gave an instant weld. So, just make sure that the height of the new nut is the same as the old one or you're likley to give yourself problems later with string height, neck relief etc

[solo4652]

[quote name='solo4652' post='521470' date='Jun 23 2009, 09:49 AM']I've just replaced the nut on my P-bass. The old one came away easily with a gentle tap on the end. The new one, a brass one, was a little wider than the slot, so I had to file the slot out a bit. Trouble was that the new brass nut was bigger all round than the old nut - it was higher as well as wider, and I han't appreciated just how that would impact on string height/neck relief/saddle height/intonation. Fortunately, i didn't glue the new nut in place before realising I had to deepen the existing slot. Couple of spots of superglue gave an instant weld. So, just make sure that the height of the new nut is the same as the old one or you're likley to give yourself problems later with string height, neck relief etc[/quote]

Actually, I've just re-read the OP and it seems you have the exact opposite problem - original nut is cut too low. Anyway, I was surprised just how much difference a small change in the height of the nut made to subsequent neck relief/saddle height etc.

[RhysP]

[quote name='solo4652' post='521474' date='Jun 23 2009, 09:53 AM']Anyway, I was surprised just how much difference a small change in the height of the nut made to subsequent neck relief/saddle height etc.[/quote]
A well adjusted nut makes an incredible difference to a bass or guitar setup, but it's one of the most difficult things to get right - you only get one chance & if you cut it too low it's back to square one.
IMO it's worth paying someone who knows what they're doing (and has the proper nut files etc.) to install & cut a new nut.